A KNIFE-wielding robber threatened staff at a supermarket before making off with £150.

Terrified workers at the Co-operative store in Flint were preparing to close when a man armed with a knife came in and demanded money from the till.

He made off with the money in a plastic bag.

Shaken staff members are now being offered counselling.

Store manager Andy Lowrie told the Leader: “Staff said he sounded very nervous but that could have been the adrenaline.

“He was dressed head to toe in black and told them to open the till. They say it happened really fast.

“They co-operated fully with him and didn’t put themselves at risk as anyone would do in that situation.

There were five customers and four members of staff in the store when the robber struck at about 8.45pm on Friday.

The man is described as white, more than 6ft tall and in his mid-20s. He was wearing a peaked cap, a scarf across his face and a black hooded jacket, with the hood pulled up over the cap.

He was also carrying a black drawstring bag.

Mr Lowrie is now looking to increase security at the Chester Road store.

He said: “I have worked for the company for 10 years across the whole of North Wales and I have never known something like this to happen before. As a business we are looking at increasing security. All the measures were in place and everything the staff did was by the book.”

North Flintshire Inspector Iwan Roberts said: “Incidents of this type are very rare in the area. I would urge anybody who was in the vicinity to call us if they saw any suspicious behaviour or anyone making away from the store.”

Anyone with information on the robbery can call Mold CID on 101 or Crimestoppers Wales on 0800 555111.

The robbery comes in the run-up to Respect for Shopworkers Week which is launched on Monday, November 8.

- ROBBERS also struck at the Co-operative store in Ruthin on Sunday night.

Two masked men entered the store on Station Road shortly after 9pm and threatened staff with axe-like weapons. A staff member was assaulted but not seriously hurt.

One man was wearing a black balaclava face covering and the other was wearing a mask similar to that used in the Scream horror film.

They made off with an undisclosed quantity of cash. anybody with information is urged to call 101.